Video game controller adapter for holding a display of a portable video game system

ABSTRACT

A video game controller adapter for holding a display of a portable video game system is provided. The base easily snaps on to a controller using a controller attachment device, thereby holding the display the portable gaming system above the controller in handheld mode. The bottom of the base is flat and designed to balance on a level surface to allow for a tabletop mode. This is especially useful for multiplayer gaming. In tabletop mode, the adapter allows plenty of space beneath the charging port to allow the user to plug in their device during game play.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[S]

This application is a Continuation of U.S. Patent Application entitled“VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER ADAPTER FOR HOLDING A DISPLAY OF A PORTABLE VIDEOGAME SYSTEM,” Ser. No. 16/682,144, filed Nov. 13, 2019, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled “VIDEO GAMECONTROLLER ADAPTER FOR HOLDING A DISPLAY OF A PORTABLE VIDEO GAMESYSTEM,” Ser. No. 62/781,330, filed Dec. 18, 2018, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

This invention relates generally to an adapter for a video gamecontroller and more particularly to an adapter for a video gamecontroller for holding a display of a portable game system.

State of the Art

Portable video game systems are becoming more and more popular. One suchsystem is the Nintendo Switch. Some experts estimate it may sell 100million units. It has a 6.2″ screen and comes with a dock to connect toa TV in addition to portable mode. There are two types of controllerssold by Nintendo for the Switch console—a Joy-Con controller and a ProController. The console comes with two Joy-Cons which are smallcontrollers that slide into the sides of the screen and allow the userto take the game on-the-go. The Pro Controller can be purchasedseparately, and is much more ergonomic, mimicking the style of othergaming controllers (e.g., PlayStation or Xbox). Many users buy ProControllers to make playing on a TV more comfortable. Once a userexperiences play on the Pro Controller, going back to the Joy-Con'ssmall buttons and non-ergonomic design is not appealing. In addition,there does not exist a good way to use the Pro Controller with the smallscreen on-the-go.

Accordingly, there is a need for an adapter that can be used with a ProController while holding the display of the portable video game system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment includes an adapter for use with a controller and adisplay of a portable video game system, the adapter comprising: acontroller attachment device configured to couple to the controller; adisplay attachment device configured to couple to the display of theportable video game system; and a support member rotatably coupledbetween the controller attachment device and the display attachmentdevice, wherein the support member rotates with respect to thecontroller attachment device and the display attachment device to orientthe display of the portable video game system in a user definedposition.

Another embodiment includes an adapter for coupling to a controller anda display of a portable video game system, the adapter comprising: acontroller attachment device configured to couple to a controller; adisplay attachment device coupled to the display of the portable videogame system; and a support member coupled between the controllerattachment device and the display attachment device, wherein the supportmember is rotatably coupled to the controller attachment device androtatably coupled to the display attachment device, wherein the supportmember rotates with respect to the controller attachment device and thedisplay attachment device rotates with respect to the support member toorient the display of the portable video game system in a user definedposition and to position a center of mass of the display of the portablevideo game system over a center of mass of the controller attachmentdevice to reduce torque on the controller attachment device and theuser's hands and wrists.

Another embodiment includes a method of using an adapter for coupling acontroller and a display of a portable video game system, the methodcomprising: coupling a controller to a controller attachment device ofthe adapter; coupling a display of a portable video game system to adisplay attachment device of the adapter; positioning the display toalign a center of mass of the display over the controller; and reducingtorque on the hands and wrist of the user in response to aligning thecenter of mass of the display over the controller.

Further still, another embodiment includes a method of coupling acontroller and a display of a portable video game system, the methodcomprising: coupling a controller to a display; and flexibly positioningthe display over the controller.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following more detailed description of theparticular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived byreferring to the detailed description and claims when considered inconnection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer tosimilar items throughout the Figures, and:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a video game controller adapter,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a video game controller adapter, according toan embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a video game controller adapter, according toan embodiment;

FIG. 4A is a side view of a video game controller adapter in a firstposition, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4B is a side view of a video game controller adapter in a secondrotated position, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a video game controller adapter coupledto a display and a controller, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a video game controller adaptercoupled to a display and a controller, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a side section view of a video game controller adapter coupledto a display and a controller, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a video game controller adapter coupled to adisplay and a controller, according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a video game controller adapter coupledto a display, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a video game controlleradapter for holding a display of a portable video game system.

Depicted in FIGS. 1-4B is an adapter 10 that can be coupled to acontroller 60 and hold a display of a portable video game system, asshown in FIGS. 5-8 . The adapter 10 includes three components, acontroller attachment device 20, a support member 40, and a displayattachment device 30, that are joined by hinges 46 and 48. Thecontroller may include the electronics necessary to operate the gamesystem and control the action on the video game system the controller isassociated with it.

The controller attachment device 20 may include a base portion 22, aclip portion 24 and a rear portion 26 with an aperture 28 extendingthrough the rear portion. The rear portion 26 and the clip portion 24are located on opposite ends of the base portion 22 and extend in a samedirection away from the base portion 22. The clip portion 24 and therear portion 26 operate to secure the controller within the controllerattachment device 20 by a friction fit. The aperture 28 provides accessto the charging port 62 of the controller 60 (as shown in FIG. 6 ).

The display attachment device 30 may include a base member 32 thatextends along the length of a back of display 50 (as shown in FIG. 6 ).The display attachment device 30 may further include two side mountmembers 34, each side mount member 34 having a protrusion, wherein theprotrusions have a size and shape to engage a groove of the display. Thedisplay attachment device 30 may further include a catch 38, wherein thecatch operates to assist in retaining the display coupled to the displayattachment device 30.

The device 10 may include a support member 40 coupled between thecontroller attachment device 20 and the display attachment device 30.The support member 40 includes an aperture 42 to provide access for acharging cable for the display 50 to extend through (as shown in FIG. 6). The support member 40 is rotatably coupled to the controllerattachment device 20 with hinge 46 and rotatably coupled to the displayattachment device 30 with hinge 48. Hinge 46 allows the support member40 to rotate with respect to the controller attachment device 20. Hinge48 allows the display attachment device 30 to rotate with respect to thesupport member 40. The hinges 46 and 48 are utilized to orient thedisplay 50 of the portable video game system in a user defined position,as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Further, the hinges 46 and 48 operate toorient the controller 60 in a user defined angle with respect to thedisplay 50 of the portable video game system to place the controller ina comfortable position for the user.

Referring further to the drawings, FIGS. 5-8 depict the adapter 10 inuse with a display 50 and a controller 60. The controller 60 may becoupled to the controller attachment device 20, wherein the controller60 is secured by the clip portion 24 and the rear portion 26 in afriction fit or a snap-in fit. The display 50 is coupled between theside mount members 34. In the embodiment shown, a channel 52 of thedisplay 50 is slidingly engaged with the protrusions 36 of the displayattachment device 30.

With the controller 60 and the display 50 coupled to the adapter, thedisplay 50 may be rotated to position a center of mass of the display ofthe portable video game system over a center of mass of the controllerto reduce torque on the wrists and hands of the user while holding thecontroller and playing the video game system (See FIG. 8 ). Thisprovides for a more comfortable gaming experience.

Additionally, the drawing figures depict a display that is also theportable video game system. For example, the portable video game systemis a Nintendo Switch, wherein the display 50 is also the portable videogame system. In these embodiments, the controller is a Nintendo SwitchPro Controller. Accordingly, the display attachment device 30 includes abase member 32 rotatably coupled to the support member 40 and two sidemount members 34 are coupled on opposing ends of the base member 32 andextending perpendicular to base member 32, wherein the two side mounts34 operate to retain the Nintendo Switch within the display attachmentdevice 30. Further, each side mount 34 of the display attachment device30 further comprises a protrusion 36, wherein the protrusions 36 have asize and shape to engage a groove 52 of the Nintendo Switch 50, whereinthe protrusions 36 slide within the grooves 52 on opposing ends of theNintendo Switch 50 to secure the Nintendo Switch 50 within the displayattachment device 30.

In an additional embodiment, shown in FIG. 9 , the base portion 22 ofthe controller attachment device 20 may be flat and designed to balanceon a level surface to allow for a tabletop mode of playing the videogame system. This is especially useful for multiplayer gaming. Intabletop mode, the adapter allows plenty of space beneath the chargingport to allow the user to plug in their device during game play. Thedisplay may be rotated into a position to resist tipping of the adapter.

Further still, the support member 40 rotates with respect to thecontroller attachment device 20 and the display attachment device 30 toorient the display 50 of the portable video game system in a foldedposition with a controller attachment device 20 located adjacent thedisplay 50. Additionally, the controller attachment device 20 and thecontroller 60 are an integrated unitary member. In other words, thecontroller with all of the electronics for controlling the game systemand the adapter that couples to the display of the game system (whichmay also be the entire game system) is a single unit or may beconsidered an integrated unitary member.

Another embodiment includes a method 70 of use of the adapter. Themethod 70 may include coupling a controller to a controller attachmentdevice of the adapter (Step 71); coupling a display to a displayattachment device of the adapter (Step 72); positioning the display toalign the center of mass of the display over the controller (Step 73);and reducing torque on the hands and wrist of the user in response toaligning the center of mass of the display over the controller (Step74).

Another embodiment includes a method of coupling a controller and adisplay of a portable video game system. The method includes coupling acontroller to a display; and flexibly positioning the display over thecontroller. The method may also comprise positioning the display toalign the center of mass of the display over the controller, andreducing torque on the hands and wrist of the user in response toaligning the center of mass of the display over the controller.

Accordingly, the components defining any video game controller adapterfor holding a display of a portable video game system may be formed ofany of many different types of materials or combinations thereof thatcan readily be formed into shaped objects provided that the componentsselected are consistent with the intended operation of a video gamecontroller adapter for holding a display of a portable video gamesystem. For example, the components may be formed of: rubbers (syntheticand/or natural) and/or other like materials; glasses (such asfiberglass) carbon-fiber, aramid-fiber, any combination thereof, and/orother like materials; polymers such as thermoplastics (such as ABS,Fluoropolymers, Polyacetal, Polyamide; Polycarbonate, Polyethylene,Polysulfone, and/or the like), thermosets (such as Epoxy, PhenolicResin, Polyimide, Polyurethane, Silicone, and/or the like), anycombination thereof, and/or other like materials; composites and/orother like materials; metals, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper,iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel,aluminum, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; alloys,such as aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy,any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; any other suitablematerial; and/or any combination thereof.

Furthermore, the components defining any video game controller adapterfor holding a display of a portable video game system may be purchasedpre-manufactured or manufactured separately and then assembled together.However, any or all of the components may be manufactured simultaneouslyand integrally joined with one another. Manufacturing of thesecomponents separately or simultaneously may involve 3D printing,extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding,resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling,drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending,welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or thelike. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they maythen be coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, aweld, a fastener (e.g. a bolt, a nut, a screw, a nail, a rivet, a pin,and/or the like), wiring, any combination thereof, and/or the like forexample, depending on, among other considerations, the particularmaterial forming the components. Other possible steps might include sandblasting, polishing, powder coating, zinc plating, anodizing, hardanodizing, and/or painting the components for example.

The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order tobest explain the present invention and its practical application and tothereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use theinvention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat the foregoing description and examples have been presented for thepurposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forthis not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to theprecise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possiblein light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit andscope of the forthcoming claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An adapter for use with a controller and adisplay of a portable video game system, the adapter comprising: acontroller attachment device comprising a base portion, a rear portionextending from a rear side of the base and a clip portion extending froma front side of the base, wherein the controller attachment device isconfigured to couple to a controller with a bottom side of thecontroller engaging the base, a rear side of the controller engaging therear portion and a clip engaging a front and partially a top of thecontroller; a display attachment device configured to couple to thedisplay of the portable video game system; and a support memberrotatably coupled between the controller attachment device and thedisplay attachment device, wherein the support member rotates withrespect to the controller attachment device and the display attachmentdevice to orient the display of the portable video game system in a userdefined position.
 2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the display of theportable video game system can be placed in a user defined position witha center of mass of the display of the portable video game system over acenter of mass of the controller to reduce torque on the wrist and handsof the user holding the controller creating increased comfort for theuser.
 3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the clip of the controllerattachment device retains a controller with protrusions that clip aroundthe controller for a snap-in fit.
 4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein theportable video game system is a system where the display and theportable video game system are a single unit.
 5. The adapter of claim 4,wherein display attachment device includes a base member rotatablycoupled to the support member and two side mount members are coupled onopposing ends of the base member and extending perpendicular to basemember, wherein two side mounts operate to retain the single unitdisplay and portable video game system within the display attachmentdevice.
 6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the controller attachmentdevice and the support member each have an aperture providing access toconnect a charging cable to the display and to the controllerrespectively.
 7. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the support memberrotates with respect to the controller attachment device and the displayattachment device to orient the display of the portable video gamesystem in a folded position with a controller attachment device locatedadjacent the display.
 8. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the controllerattachment device and the controller are an integrated unitary member.9. An adapter for coupling to a controller and a display of a portablevideo game system, the adapter comprising: a controller attachmentdevice comprising a base portion, a rear portion extending from a rearside of the base and a clip portion extending from a front side of thebase, wherein the controller attachment device is configured to coupleto a controller with a bottom side of the controller engaging the base,a rear side of the controller engaging the rear portion and a clipengaging a front and partially a top of the controller; a displayattachment device coupled to the display of the portable video gamesystem; and a support member coupled between the controller attachmentdevice and the display attachment device, wherein the support member isrotatably coupled to the controller attachment device and rotatablycoupled to the display attachment device, wherein the support memberrotates with respect to the controller attachment device and the displayattachment device rotates with respect to the support member to orientthe display of the portable video game system in a user defined positionand to position a center of mass of the display of the portable videogame system over a center of mass of the controller attachment device toreduce torque on the controller attachment device and the user's handsand wrists.
 10. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the support memberrotates with respect to the controller attachment device and the displayattachment device rotates with respect to the support member to orientthe controller attachment device in a user defined angle with respect tothe display of the portable video game system.
 11. The adapter of claim9, wherein the portable video game system is a system where the displayand the portable video game system are a single unit.
 12. The adapter ofclaim 11, wherein display attachment device includes a base memberrotatably coupled to the support member and two side mount members arecoupled on opposing ends of the base member and extending perpendicularto base member, wherein two side mounts operate to retain the singleunit display and portable video game system within the displayattachment device.
 13. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the controllerattachment device comprises a flat surface on a bottom side, wherein theflat surface is configured to rest on a flat surface and support thedisplay of a portable video game system on the flat surface without thecontroller coupled to the controller attachment system.
 14. The adapterof claim 13, wherein the adapter is resistant to tipping in response topositioning the center of mass of the display of the portable video gamesystem over the center of mass of the controller attachment device toreduce torque on the controller attachment device when the adapter is inuse.
 15. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the support member each have anaperture providing access to connect a charging cable to the display.16. A method of coupling a controller and a display of a portable videogame system, the method comprising: coupling a controller to a displaywith an adapter comprising controller attachment device, a displayattachment device, and a support member rotatably coupled between thecontroller attachment device and the display attachment device, whereinthe display is coupled of the display attachment device and thecontroller is coupled o the controller attachment device in a positionthat hand grips of the controller are on either side of the controllerattachment device; and flexibly positioning the display over thecontroller.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising positioningthe display to align the center of mass of the display over thecontroller.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising reducingtorque on the hands and wrist of the user in response to aligning thecenter of mass of the display over the controller.